Simoriah's Sanctuary

Last thing that I want to mention for today is my vacation. I had the most awesome time!!! First two days were spent in Las Vegas. Had a little fun, did everything in one day that people are supposed to do in Vegas for very little money. (Hoover Damn, Freemont Street, the strip) Vegas would interest me more if I had more money. Then, on the third day I breathed a sigh of relief and drove to Utah. We visited Zion and Bryce Canyon while we were there. Breathtaking, I have plenty of pics to show you!!! Got mountain sick for the first time in Bryce. Funny, all I had to do was tell people I was from NJ and they automatically understood my plight. After, I recovered, we ate in Bryce View Lodge. We also ate in local restaurants as much as we could, like the Texas style restaurant in Utah. Not much else to do for nitelife in the town of 4000. Keep in mind that this is a big town for down there. The nearest big city was St George, 80 miles away.
The 5th day we went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Beautiful place in beautiful angel canyon. Then we visited Glen Canyon, and of course it rained the entire time!!
So, we went to Walmart and tried to find a Jewel CD (This Way) which I figured would be perfect to listen to in the mountains, with its SW feel and Flair. I did find another jewel, his name was Harley John. He almost got my phone number. (Damn you Irwin!!! BTW if anyone knows Harley John let him know I said he was gorgeous!!!) Then by happenstance we ended up in the last music store in Page, AZ, and with one last look, she found the CD, and I was willing to waste money on it!!!!
I should explain something to you Northeast people. Driving out there was fun for the scenery, but was LOOOOOOONNNNNGGG!!! We in NJ are used to driving about 15 at the most for a grocery/Walmart type store and 30 minutes at the mall. An hour for a good mall. There, the nearest Walmart for most is 2 hours (from my apt to the Poconos) away and 6 hours (from South Jersey to Boston) for the nearest mall. This was all kindly explained to me by the cash register girl at the CD store in Page, AZ. Although she did exaggerate a bit, (no the Navajo Indian Reservation does not remind me of a third world nation) it was a bit shocking to believe that some people lived in traditional hogans without heat, water, electric, the modern conveniences. Also, the vast majority of Indians (yes they prefer Indians over Native American) live in small houses, trailors, or government housing. And the government housing out there is better than the norm. Dogs were everywhere, but very friendly and wek fed. No fancy stuff like collars or nametags or nothing. So, yes, I did get all the stares in the world, but they were 90% friendly to me. Although I did have an incident with the ants in my hotel room in Kayenta that they are probably still talking about. (what a spoiled brat, doesnt everyone have insects living in their house?)
That day we also visited every Indian craft stand open on the road (not very many that time of year) and got a few things. The busy season is during the summer, and we could not go then.) My main goal was to get AUTHENTIC Native American stuff made by Native Americans. Saved all my money for that!! That way it is authentic and I am helping support their family and not some huge coorperation. Also, ate in Tuba City (Hogan Restaurant). For four days straight I had fry bread. Still have not found a place in Jersey to solve my fry Bread Fix, but I do have a recipe. Cant wait to use it!!
The 6th day we visited Monument Valley. Loved it, glad I went during April and not July, the busy season. We got to go on a tour. It was fun, I rode a horse for about 10 minutes. Got pictures!!!! Also, we explored the whole place, got to visit a real hogan, see an elder weaving a traditional rug, and even got to trance out when the guide took us to the "Big Hogan" (cave shaped like a Hogan, hole on top and everything). We leaned back and meditated while he sang. SO COOL!!!!!
The 7th day we went to a Navajo Church Service. It was very quaint but friendly. Loved the Navajo mass afterwards. The preacher had a sermon and for once I did not daydream but listened. It was about changing yourself. You can change your job, boyfriend, clothing, but if you do not change the inside of yourself, nothing will really make you happy. Wow. I knew that but I had to travel 2000 miles and spend 3 days without cell phone service and 6 days without a decent radio station (all Country! not even MTV or Fuse, just CMT!), nightlife, or seeing an actual black person to know this. Hey my friend and I were the minority. Two pieces of salt in an Adobo and cinnamon shaker (Mexicans and Indians). We were the outsiders, looking in. It felt nice.
The rest of the day we went to Canyon De Chelly and the Hubbell Trading Post. It was a lot smaller than I imagined. Oh well, still bought some neat stuff.
Then we went to Holbrook, AZ. As it was explained to me, it was the Indian Reservation with bars, since they do not allow alcohol on the reservation. Funny, there were lots of alcoholics! Well, we thought we entered society and dance to Hey'all on Rte 40 by outkast. I was never so happy to be back in what I thought was civilization. Nah, just a tease. We visited the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. FUN!!! Wish it did not rain, but everything happens for a reason. Also, my friend and I drove on Rte 66 (great american highway?? Get yo' kicks on Rte 66?)!!! So cool, too bad nobody in NJ ever heard about it. One guy actually had the nerve to ask me if it was a white people thing, like Calle Ocho. I just did not bother then to explain further. We drove through Winslow, AZ then got back on Rte 40, which is the main highway to get across northern AZ. We stopped at Meteor Crator, and got made fun of for being from NJ (literally the whole crowd of 50 laughed when I said where I was from. Did not understand the joke.) Then after this we spent the next 2 nights in Sedona, AZ.
It was then that I realized that this vacation was fun but WAY too jampacked!! My friend and I literally sat and figured out that A. we traveled 2000 miles in 10 days, and this does not count Las Vegas. B. We could have made every destination down there, (about 5 or 6) into a little vacation for next time). I mean, we spent an average of 3-4 hours in the car every day. No CD is that long or interesting. We even got bored and listened to a Navajo Language Station just for fun. I mean, we got the jist; I guess there is no Navajo translation for 22 billion dollors or big ugly government. C. Spending 12 days in a row, even with your best friend, can make you not stand each other ( I am talking 24 hours a day here, you would understand too!!) and notice little habits that seemed cute now seem annoying as hell. Obviously we are still close, but now I know why vacations are 7 days long.)
I mean look at what we visited during this trip so far: Las Vegas strip, Boulder City (ask me about the Colon Cleansing chick), Hoover Damn, Zion, Bryce, Glen Canyon, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Monumement Valley Tribal Park, Tuba City and Kayenta,AZ, Page AZ, Canyon de Chelly, Hubbel Trading Post, Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, Holbrook, Winslow, Meteor Crator, Flaggstaff, AZ. Hey no time to relax here. And I did not even get to Sedona.
Well, I could spend a whole week in Sedona and never get bored. Loved it, loved it, loved iT!!!!!! We visited Red Rock State park, and drove through (the only way to get to Sedona) Oak Creek Canyon at 15 miles per hour. Also I visited a few stores to get acquainted with the "Crystal Poeple" who do Aura Cleansings and fun stuff like that. Also, we visited the Grand Canyon.
Wow. That about sums it up. What else is there to say? Next time I go I am spending time in Williams AZ, looks like a lot more fun for Rte 66. But I am glad we went to the Canyon this time of year; it was already packed!! And I nearly wanted to kill the tourists from other countries, some (not all) are so rude!! My friend and I had a run in with Elk, that was the highlight, I was Soooo excited!!. After 8 hours in the park we went home. Next time when I am skinny I am doing Angel's Landing trail, which takes you to the bottom of the park and back up. Cant wait!!!
Then we visited Jerome, AZ and ate in this quiant little place that overlooked the gourgeous terrain. It was then I knew I was going to miss this great place. It was out last full day there, and I am So glad that we did that instead of the canyon. We then drove on Rte 40 West, which that whole thing was weird, since living in NJ, I am used to always going East. Oh well. We went 3 hours (which is a lot for NJ) without stopping. I passed a rest area, and I said, oh well, just take the next exit, thinking like in NJ every town has a food area. WRONG!!! I had to hold it in for 2 hours, and had to stop at an authentic truck stop in the southwest. Over 200 trucks there, triple loaders and everything. COOL! They even had showers and laundry, not that we needed it (again my Jersey mentality coming out). Our last official stop was kingman, AZ. Looked like fun if it was not 11PM and we were not dead tired. So, we stayed at a local Days Inn. A little scary moment happened when someone tried to open our door, and I looked through the peep hole, and a man (who just so happpened to be black) gave me a mean look at walked away. I then proceeded to pile all of our luggage in front of the door. What that would have done I do not know. My friend told me to ignore it.
Well, then we headed back to Las Vegas. Who knew I would be so depressed? I mean, I guess it was hard, because it was a life long dream, and also we spent so much time planning it. Also, on the plan ride there, I remember being so elated about seeing mountains and being in the west for the first time. The plane ride back, I acutally let out a few tears leaving the land. But I have to remember a few things; first, it is not like I will never be back there again. I have tons of pics (270 and counting) and pamplets to remind me of it. Also, I am planning another vacation (much less hectic; Sedona and the Grand Canyon, which we will stay in Tuba City) there in a few years down the road. Also, all my family and friends are HERE, in the great states of NJ NY and PA. And Texas. Lastly, I think about what that Navajo Preacher said: "You will only be happy when you change from the inside.". And that is true. No talks from my friend Eddie about willpower and laziness will change me: I have to do it. I have to figure out what I want, and then go ahead, plan my life, just like I planned the trip, and do it. That first step is always the hardest. And in my case, it is getting to know the Spanish Language and what I want in my life again. Oh, well, hope you had fun reading about my trip. Any questions, feel free to ask me.